Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville feels like it will ultimately be his decision when deciding who replaces the recently fired Mike Haviland on the team's bench.

Whether that's truly the case remains to be seen. But Quenneville was asked what he's looking for in an assistant coach going forward.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was fuming and had every right to be.

Quenneville had just seen his star winger Marian Hossa carried off the ice on a stretcher for an illegal head hit by Coyotes agitator Raffi Torres, and no penalties were called. So he ripped the referees for it.

But now, he's got to pay.

By Ben Meyer-Abbott
bmeyer-abbott@suntimes.com
Twitter: @BMACST

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Game 1 of the Blackhakws' first-round series against the Phoenix Coyotes wasn't a fun night for anyone on the team, especially defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson and Sean O'Donnell.

DENVER -- It's the fourth time in Joel Quenneville's four seasons behind the Blackhawks bench that there's a focus on who starts in net down the stretch and backstops the team into the playoffs, maintaining the notion that he's impatient with what happens in goal.

He was asked before Tuesday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche if he thinks he's too impatient with his goalies. Here's his answer:

The Blackhawks were looking forward to Friday's anticipated matchup against the Red Wings, but there were still questions about the two goals the Los Angeles Kings scored in their victory Wednesday night.

By Ben Meyer-Abbott bmeyer-abbott@suntimes.com
Twitter: @BMACST

Blackhawks backup goalie Ray Emery will get the start Thursday night at the United Center against the Winnipeg Jets.

The Blackhawks cleaned out their lockers, had their final physicals and held individual meetings Thursday at the United Center.

Here is a transcript of coach Joel Quenneville's final meeting with the media of the 2010-11 season:

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days after getting treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hawks head team physician Michael Terry said Thursday "a small ulcer caused by aspirin" led to the internal bleeding.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was admitted early Wednesday morning to an area hospital after feeling "severe discomfort" Tuesday night in his suburban Chicago home.

ATLANTA -- Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville abruptly ended the morning skate before Saturday's game against the Atlanta Thrashers.

It was clear that he wanted to get a message across to his team, which has lost three of its last four games and had developed bad habits.

Morning skates are typically 30 minutes. The Hawks only skated for about 15 to 20 minutes on Saturday. Quenneville was visibly upset during their drills, called his team together and then led them off the ice and into the locker room.